Enrollment
173
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Indianapolis, IN
James a Garfield School 31
Federal NCES profile for James a Garfield School 31, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 180477000866
👥 S:T ratio 67
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 65
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
James a Garfield School 31 earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 98% of Indiana schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana schools.
- #35 of 90
- schools in Indianapolis · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 8.2:1
- small classes for Indiana
- 77.9%
- free-lunch eligible
James a Garfield School 31 has class sizes smaller than 98% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, James a Garfield School 31 ranks #35 of 90 schools in Indianapolis, IN.
School address
District: Indianapolis Public Schools · Indiana
NCES ID 180477000866 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
21.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
8.2:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
-48% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
77.9%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
+57% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How James a Garfield School 31 compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at James a Garfield School 31
James a Garfield School 31 is a high-poverty, small combined-grade school in Indianapolis, Indiana, enrolling 173 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 8.2:1, James a Garfield School 31 is leaner than roughly 98% of Indiana schools and 48% under the state's 15.9:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need is high: 77.9% of students qualify for free meals, 57% above the Indiana average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
This is a small campus: fewer students than 93% of Indiana schools, with 173 enrolled.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,862 scored Indiana schools.
Against 61 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #32.
Its student body is led by White (36%) and African American (25%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 73/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 173 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 67.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Indianapolis Public Schools spends $19,511 per pupil, 62% above the Indiana average, a better-resourced district than most.
Among Indianapolis's public schools, it stands alongside Indiana Connections Academy (5,376 students): James a Garfield School 31 is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (8.2:1 vs 36.6:1).
Indianapolis Public Schools also operates Arsenal Technical High School (2,360 students) and Crispus Attucks High School (1,269 students) alongside James a Garfield School 31.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How James a Garfield School 31 compares
James a Garfield School 31 on the metrics families compare, against Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 8.2:1 | ▼ 48% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 77.9% | ▲ 57% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 173 | top 93% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
8.2:1
Leaner classes than 95% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
173
Bigger than 17% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
77.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 57% above the Indiana average of 49.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
8.2:1
students per teacher
- 48% below state mean
Top 2% in Indiana - lower ratio than 98% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
67.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$19,511
per pupil, district-wide
- above Indiana avg of $12,079
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 173 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 21 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 13.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 36.4%
African American 24.9%
Hispanic or Latino 23.1%
Two or More 13.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.6%
Largest group: White at 36.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 73.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 73.4, James a Garfield School 31 is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Indianapolis Public Schools, which includes James a Garfield School 31.
$19,511
Per student
+62%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
+18%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 34.1%
State 53.5%
Federal 12.3%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How James a Garfield School 31 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal Technical High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Crispus Attucks High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Shortridge High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| George Washington High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northwest Community Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to James a Garfield School 31's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,360
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,269
- Students per teacher
- 21.9:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 1,206
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 729
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 623
- Students per teacher
- 26:1
- Resource Index
- 8/100
Similar other schools in Indianapolis
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Indiana Connections Academy
Standard public school
5,376 students 36.6:1 students per teacher
Hoosier College and Career Academy
Standard public school
1,484 students 57.1:1 students per teacher
Early Learning Center
Standard public school
1,313 students 24.3:1 students per teacher
Victory College Prep Academy
Standard public school
1,058 students 11.9:1 students per teacher
Forest Glen Elementary School
Standard public school
971 students 25.6:1 students per teacher
Indiana Connections Career Academy
Standard public school
942 students 49.6:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Indiana, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~173 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on James a Garfield School 31's federal record.
- Compare James a Garfield School 31 against another school. Compare schools
- Indianapolis Public Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about James a Garfield School 31
How many students attend James a Garfield School 31?
James a Garfield School 31 has 173 students enrolled. It is a public school in Indianapolis, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at James a Garfield School 31?
The student-teacher ratio at James a Garfield School 31 is 8.2:1, which is 48% lower than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 48% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at James a Garfield School 31?
77.9% of students at James a Garfield School 31 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of James a Garfield School 31?
The largest demographic group at James a Garfield School 31 is White at 36.4% of enrollment, in Indianapolis, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 73.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for James a Garfield School 31?
James a Garfield School 31 has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does James a Garfield School 31 rank among schools in Indianapolis?
By Resource Investment Index, James a Garfield School 31 ranks #35 of 90 schools in Indianapolis, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Indianapolis on the city page.
Is James a Garfield School 31 a good school?
James a Garfield School 31 earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 98% of Indiana schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Indianapolis Public Schools?
Besides James a Garfield School 31, Indianapolis Public Schools also operates Arsenal Technical High School (2,360 students), Crispus Attucks High School (1,269 students), and Shortridge High School (1,206 students). See the Indianapolis Public Schools district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.